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Butterflies of North America

Butterflies of Florida

Polydamas Swallowtail (Battus polydamas)
JPG -- species photo

Polydamas Swallowtail (Battus polydamas [Linnaeus])

Wing span: 3 1/2 - 4 1/2 inches (9 - 12 cm).

Identification: Lacks tails. Black above with submarginal yellow band.

Life history: Female lays eggs in groups of 10-14 on exposed new stems or growing tips of vines. Caterpillars feed in groups when young. Overwinter as chrysalids.

Flight: Two-3 flights from April-November.

Caterpillar hosts: Pipevines (Aristolochia species).

Adult food: Nectar of lantana. Occasionally seen feeding on honeysuckle and soapweed flowers.

Habitat: Open woods, abandoned fields, disturbed areas.

Range: South Texas and peninsular Florida south to Argentina. Strays north to Kentucky and Missouri.

Conservation: None noted.

Management needs: Manage habitat for caterpillar host plant and nectar sources.

The Nature Conservancy Global Rank: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.

References:


Opler, P. A. and G. O. Krizek. 1984. Butterflies east of the Great Plains.

     Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore. 294 pages, 54 color plates.



Opler, P. A. and V. Malikul. 1992. A field guide to eastern butterflies.

     Peterson field guide #4. Houghton-Mifflin Co., Boston. 396 pages,

     48 color plates.



Scott, J. A. 1986. The butterflies of North America. Stanford University Press,

     Stanford, Calif. 583 pages, 64 color plates.

Author: Jane M. Struttmann

State and Regional References:


Gerberg, E.J. and Arnett, R.H., Jr.  Florida Butterflies.  Natural Science

     Publications, Inc.  Baltimore, MD.  90 pp.



Kimball, C.P.  1965.  Arthropods of Florida and Neighboring Land Areas - Vol. 1:

     Lepidoptera of Florida.  Div. of Plant Industry, State of Florida Dept. 

     of Agriculture.  Gainesville, FL.  363 pp. 



Minno, M.C. and Emmel, T.C.  1993.  Butterflies of the Florida Keys.  Scientific

     Publishers.  Gainesville, FL.  168 pp.

     

Opler, P.A. 1998. A field guide to eastern butterflies, revised format.

     Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston.     



Smith, D.S., Miller, L.D. and Miller, J.Y.  1994.  The Butterflies of the West

     Indies and South Florida.  Oxford Univ. Press.  Oxford, U.K.  264 pp.

Polydamas Swallowtail (Battus polydamas)
distribution map
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